Women's Writing and Historiography in the GDR

Helen Bridge

Description

This is not only the first study to offer a detailed comparison of historical and literary discourses in the GDR, but also the first to illuminate relations between three topics popular in East German women's writing: the National Socialist past; the lives of historical women; and the use of mythical themes and forms to voice critiques of history.

Women's Writing and Historiography in the GDR

Helen Bridge

Table of Contents

Introduction IntroductionI. 'Das Vergangene ist nicht tot': new approaches to National Socialism in literature of the 1970s 1. Historical and literary treatments of National Socialism prior to the 1970s2. Shifting perspectives on the National Socialist past in 1970s literature and historiography3. 'Der gewöhnliche Faschismus': Helga Schütz's Jette / Julia novels4. 'Wie sind wir so geworden, wie wir heute sind?': Christa Wolf's Kindheitsmuster and its reception in the GDR5. Developments in historians' and writers' approaches to National Socialism after KindheitsmusterII. 'ihre Geschichte wäre noch zu schreiben': biographical fictions about women 6. Women's lives as a challenge to Orthodox historical narratives7. Academic work on women's history in the GDR and feminist debates in the West8. Writing a woman's life: Christa Wolf; Sigrid Dumm and Renate Feyl; Brigitte StruzykIII. 'Die Welt der unendlichen Möglichkeiten neben dieser einen Realität': fantastic approaches to history in literature of the 1970s and 1980s 9. Literary treatments of myth in the GDR10. Fantastic approaches to history: Morgner's Trobadora Beatriz and Königsdorf's Respektloser Umgang11. Myth as history and history as myth: Wolf's Kassandra and Morgner's AmandaConclusionBibliographyIndex

Women's Writing and Historiography in the GDR

Helen Bridge

Reviews and Awards

"In this excellent study, Helen Bridge argues that narrative fiction by women expanded the boundaries of historical debate in the GDR.... Bridge not only offers perceptive insights into the differing roles played by historiography and literature in the GDR, but also presents a wealth of evidence to support her clear and persuasive argument that women's texts challenged and subverted official thinking and opened up new spaces for debate."--German Studies Review